Pillow button installing device



July 30, 1968 R. W. Mc 3,394,855

PILLOW BUTTON INSTALLING DEVICE Filed July 26, 1966 ,5 FIG. 2. 5 66 u INVENTOR. L Roy W MC/A/TYRE' MAHOA/EY 5: HORNE/{KER ATTOENEYS United States Patent 3,394,855 PILLOW BUTTON INSTALLING DEVICE Roy W. McIntyre, Inglewood, Calif., assignor to Brentwood Universal, Inc., Torrance, Califi, a corporation of California Filed July 26, 1966, Ser. No. 567,925 14 Claims. (Cl. 227-149) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A frame mounts a first and preferably a second button holding means, each comprising a series of spaced button gripping members spaced in a predetermined pattern, said button holding means preferably being adapted for the selective changing of said predetermined patterns. Actuating means connects the button holding means to the frame for relative movement to and from button assembly position, whereby, button portions held by the button gripping members are assembled at opposite sides of a pillow in said predetermined pattern with button connection means extending therebetween.

This invention relates to a device for installing pillow buttons wherein a series of button portions are positioned at either side in spaced predetermined patterns so as to provide the button portions at the one pillow side aligned through the pillow with the button portions at the other side, and with button connection means extending through the pillow and operably connected to the aligned button portions retaining the button portions assembled with the pillow. More particularly, this invention relates to a device of the foregoing character wherein unique button holding members are arranged in said predetermined pattern and co-operate upon actuation of the device to permanently assemble button portions with said pillow and in said predetermined pattern whereby the entire button assembling operation may be accomplished with a single actuation of the device.

Various prior methods and devices have been used for installing buttons on pillows wherein button halves are positioned at either side of the pillow and connection means is provided extending therebetween and through the pillow for connecting the button halves. Furthermore, it has been common to provide a series of spaced buttons on a single pillow and arranged in a particular pattern primarily for the aesthetic effect thereof, although in some cases functionally strengthening the structure of the pillow.

In any event, one of the major difficulties with the prior methods and devices for assembling these buttons with the pillows has been that the buttons must be installed individually so as to create a relatively time consuming and expensive operation. Additionally, in installing the buttons individually, it is difiicult to maintain a uniform and desired overall button pattern on the pillow so that the aesthetic effect thereof can be destroyed.

Certain prior attempts have been made to simultaneously install a series of buttons arranged in a predetermined pattern on the pillows, but to my knowledge, none of these has been completely satisfactory. In many cases, the fastening of the buttons to the pillows has been unsatisfactory and the overall construction of the pillow has therefore been undesirable. Furthermore, the prior devices for accomplishing this multiple button installation have been relatively complicated and therefore expensive to provide.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a device for installing pillow buttons which is relatively simple in construction, may be provided at a relatively small cost and requires little experience to operate. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the device is operable through fluid cylinder means actionable by a foot pedal with a single stroke of the device performing the entire button assembly operation for one pillow. The device is arranged such that the final button pattern on the pillow is pre-established so that for a partic ular button pattern, this pattern will remain absolutely uniform from pillow to pillow.

It is another object of my invention to provide a device for installing pillow buttons in which a predetermined multiple button pattern may be installed simultaneously at opposite sides of a pillow in a single stroke of the device, said predetermined pattern being exactly repeatable from pillow to pillow for any desired number, yet this button pattern may be quickly and easily altered to provide a different predetermined button pattern for attachment to the next series of pillows. In the device of the presentinvention, opposed button holding members are provided, each of which has a series of spaced button gripping members thereon arranged in the predetermined pattern so that by providing relative movement between the button holding members to bring these members against opposite sides of a pillow, button portions releasably mounted in the button gripping members are assembled against the pillow sides in said predetermined exact pattern. Further, the button gripping members are mounted on the button holding members for selective ready removal from and the remounting thereon in different predetermined patterns, thereby making the predetermined pattern quickly changeable for any given series of pillows.

It is still a further object of my invention to provide a pillow button installing device of the foregoing character in which the relative movement bet-ween the opposed button holding members is arranged such that when the button holding members are spaced apart away from button assembling position, the pillow positioned t-herebetween during the button assembling operation is easily accessible for insertion and removal therefrom. Also, the button holding members are positioned such that the spaced button gripping members thereon are easily accessible for the insertion of button portions therein to provide the device ready for the next button assembly operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawing which is for the purpose of illustration only, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the pillow button installing device according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal, sectional view taken along the broken line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along the broken line 4-4 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, elevational view of one of the complete buttons prior to assembly installed by the device of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of the pillow button installing device according to the principles of the present invention includes a main frame generally indicated at having spaced, vertical legs 22, intermediate cross members 24 and upper cross members 26, all of which are assembled and secured in usual fashion so as to provide the main frame generally table-like. A first button holding support or plate 28 is secured over the frame upper cross members 26 so that the first plate extends generally horizontally and is stationary on the main frame 20. Furthermore, a series of gripping member mounting openings 30 are formed through the first button holding plate 28, with these openings being equally spaced in rows in both perpendicular directions so as to form a preferably overall square pattern covering the major portion of the first button holding plate.

As best seen in FIG. 3, a series of substantially identical button gripping members 32 are removably secured in spaced relationship in a predetermined pattern in the gripping member mounting openings 30 of the first button holding plate 28 and it is apparent that the predetermined pattern of the button gripping members can be readily changed by removing the button gripping members from the particular mounting openings and installing the same in other of these mounting openings. Each of the button gripping members 32, as best seen in FIG. 4, includes a mounting portion 34 having a pilot 36 received downwardly in the particular mounting opening 30 and selectively removably secured therein by a mounting screw 38. Above the mounting portion 34, each of the button gripping members 32 is formed with a central, vertically upstanding, button holding portion 40 terminating upwardly in a concave button holding seat 42.

Each of the button holding portions 40 is also formed with an annular radially projecting shoulder 44 spaced downwardly from the button holding seat 42 and an annular, radially projecting and preferably semicircular cross section, integral segment retainer ring 46 spaced downwardly from the shoulder 44 and spaced above the member mounting portion 34. Additionally, a series, preferably three, gripping segments 48 are assembled extending axially along and substantially peripherally surrounding the button holding portion 40, with the segments having radially inwardly o ening retainer grooves 50 extending circumferentially of and radially receiving the holding portion retainer ring 46, and also having circumferentially extending, upwardly facing shoulders 52 for interengagement with the holding portion shoulder 44, as shown. Upper ends of the gripping segments 48 are formed with arcuately inwardly extending hooked portions 54 extending above so as to partially overlie and form arcuate upwardly extending continuations of the holding portion button holding seat 42, and further form upwardly facing, segment end surfaces 56, with segments 48 being radially pivotally urged about the portion retainer ring 46 and radially against the button holding portion 40 by a resilient spring 58 received surrounding the segments in curcumferentially extending spring grooves 60 intermediate the retainer grooves 50 and shoulders 52.

Thus, the series of button gripping members 32 may be selectively and removably positioned in certain of the mounting openings 30 of the first button holding plate 28 arranged to form a predetermined pattern, one of the button gripping members being provided for each button in the pattern, as will be hereinafter more clearly described. As shown, the so mounted button gripping members 32 extend uniformly upwardly from the first button holding plate 28 so that the segment end surfaces 56 thereof define a common horizontal plane which may serve as a pillow holding surface, as will be hereinafter pointed out. Substantially identical, upstanding stop members 62 are mounted one in each of the four corner mounting openings 30 of the first button holding plate 28, with the stop members extending spaced above the button gripping members 32 and the segment end surfaces 56 thereof, with each stop member having an upper end surface 64,

all of which likewise extend in a common plane spaced above the plane of the segment end surfaces on the button gripping members, again for a purpose to be hereinafter pointed out.

A second button holding plate 66 is, per se, substantially the same as the first button holding plate 28 and includes the same pattern of gripping member mounting openings 68 therethrough for selectively removably mounting in the same manner a second series of the same button gripping members 32, with the exception that the button gripping members extend downwardly from the second button holding plate rather than upwardly, as in the case of the first button holding plate. Thus, the button gripping members 32 of the second button holding plate 66 may be arranged in the identical predetermined pattern as the gripping members of the first button holding plate 28 and when the plates are positioned parallel and vertically aligned, the gripping members of the second plate will be exactly vertically aligned with the gripping members of the first plate. Also, when a change in the pattern of the button gripping members 32 on the first button holding plate 28 is made, an identical change can be made on the second button holding plate 66 so as to maintain the exact, identical predetermined pattern between the first and second plates.

The second button holding plate 66, different from the first button holding plate 28, is formed with edge connected, upstanding guide plates 70 at opposite sides thereof, with the guide plates being generally triangular in side elevation, as shown in FIG. 1. Each of the guide plates 70 is provided with laterally outwardly projecting, substantially centrally located and vertically spaced upper and lower guide rollers 72 and 74 which are laterally received in tracks 76 of guide track members 78, the guide track members being secured to laterally opposite sides of the main frame 20 outwardly abutting and secured to the appropriate intermediate cross members 24 and upper cross members 26 adjacent the appropriate sides of the first and second button holding plates 28 and 66. As seen in FIG. 1, the tracks 76 of the guide track members 78 includes vertical track portions 80 extending upwardly from the first button holding plate 28 and terminating upwardly in arcuately curved track portions 82, with the guide track members above the first button holding plate 23 being reinforced in the upward extension thereof by the reinforcing plates 84.

Upper ends of actuating arms 86 are pivotally connected to the second button holding plate 66 outwardly of the lower guide rollers 74, with lower ends thereof being pivotally connected to the extremities of a cross rod 88 spaced below the intermediate cross members 24 of the main frame 20, as shown. The cross rod 88 is centrally pivotally connected to an end of a piston rod 90 of a downwardly and upwardly angularly acting fluid cylinder 92, the upper end of said cylinder being pivotally connected to the main frame 26. Fluid cylinder 92 is operably connected for downward actuation upon depression of a foot pedal 94 through a usual fluid supply system (not shown).

Thus, depression of the foot pedal 94 by an operator (not shown) will cause extension of the piston rod 90 from the fiuid cylinder 92 forcing the actuating arms 86 downwardly and through the connection thereof with the second button holding plate 66, beginning the downward movement of the button holding plate. In the initial movement of the second button holding plate 66 from the position shown in full lines in FIG. 1 toward the button assembly position shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, the lower guide rollers 74 will move downwardly in the vertical track portions 80 of the guide track members 78, with the upper guide rollers 72 following in the curved track portions 82 of the guide track members. During the progressive movement of the upper guide rollers 72 along the curved track portions 82 of the guide track members 78 and toward the vertical track portions 80 thereof, the second button holding plate 66 will be progressively angled toward parallel alignment with the first button holding plate 28. Consequently, when the upper guide rollers finally reach the vertical track portions 80 of the guide track members, the second button holding plate will have attained this parallel alignment and in the remaining downward movement thereof, the second button holding plate will move rectilinearly toward the first button holding plate as guided by both the upper and lower guide rollers 72 and 74 simultaneously moving in the vertical track portions 80.

The termination of the downward movement of the second button holding plate 66 relative to the first button holding plate 28 is determined by the stop members 62 which are selectively vertically adjustable within the particular gripping member mounting openings 30 of the first button holding plate so that the proper final spacing between the first plate button gripping members 32 and the second plate button gripping members may be regulated and maintained for the particular pillow (not shown) to be positioned therebetween. Furthermore, when the operates releases the foot pedal 94, the second button holding plate 66 will begin upward movement relative to the first button holding plate 28 as a result of the piston rod 90 being Withdrawn by the fluid cylinder 92. When the second button holding plate 66 finally reaches the upper position, as shown in full lines in FIG. 1, the upper guide rollers 72 will have again moved into the curved track portions 82 of guide track members 78 so as to angle or tilt the second button holding plate relative to the first button holding plate and provide the button gripping members 32 of the second button holding plate readily accessible for installation of button portions therein, :as will be hereinafter described.

A typical button generally indicated at 96 is shown in FIG. and includes a lower button portion 98 having a convex face surface 100, a generally cylindrical periphery 102 and a connecting portion 104. An upper button portion 106 is substantially the same as the lower button portion 98, having a convex face surface 108, a generally cylindrical periphery 110 and a connecting portion 112, with the exception that the upper button portion is formed with a pointed downwardly extending connecting pin 114. As stated, button 96 is typical and such buttons are arranged so that when the upper button portion 106 is moved forcibly downwardly toward the lower button portion 98, the connecting pin 114 will enter the connecting portion 104 of the lower button portion and ultimately bend therein so as to tightly and permanently retain the upper and lower button portions assembled, with the connecting pin extending through a pillow.

In use of the embodiment of the pillow button installation device of the present invention, with the first and second button holding plates 28 and 66 in the positions shown in FIG. 1 in full lines, one of the lower button portions 98 is inserted in each of the button gripping members 32 on the first button holding plate by forcing the face surfaces 100 of the lower button portions downwardly against the segment end surfaces 56 of the gripping segments 48, causing the gripping segments to radially spread by radial pivoting thereof relative to the button holding portions 40. Spreading of the gripping segments 48 of the button gripping members 32 permits the face surface 100 of the lower button portions 98 to ultimately come to rest against the button holding seats 42, with the gripping segments resiliently engaging the periphery 102 of the lower button portions, thereby retaining and positioning the same ready for assembly. The upper button portions 106 are similarly installed in the button gripping members 32 of the second button holding plate 66, with the face surfaces 108 thereof received in the button holding seats 42, the peripheries 110 thereof engaged and releasably retained by the gripping segments 48 and the connecting pins 114 thereof projecting axially of the button gripping members or perpendicular of the second button holding plate.

A pillow (not shown) is then positioned over the button gripping members 32 of the first button holding plate 28 within the stop members 62 and against the segment end surfaces 56 and the connecting portions 104 of the lower button portions 98, as indicated by the circular broken line in FIG. 3. Thereafter, depression of the foot pedal 98 will cause the second button holding plate 66 to move downwardly toward the first button holding plate 28, as previously described, rectilinearly approaching the first button holding plate and eventually coming to rest against the stop members 62, thereby compressing the pillow therebetween and securely assembling the upper button portions 106 with the lower button portions 98 and with the connecting pins 114 extending therebetween and through the pillow. Release of the foot pedal 94 causes the second button holding plate 66 to return to its upper position, shown in full lines in FIG. 1, and during the upward movement of the second button holding plate, either the upper button portions 106 or the lower button portions 98 will disengage from the respective button gripping members 32 as permitted by the resilient engagement of the gripping segments 48, this usually being the upper button portions disengaging from the button gripping members of the second button holding plate 66 due to the increased downward force caused by the weight of the pillow.

According to the present invention, therefore, I have provided a pillow button installation device which is obviously relatively simple in construction, may be provided at a relatively small cost and is virtually foolproof so as to require little experience for the operation thereof. As long as the button gripping members 32 are properly pre-assembled on the respective first and second button holding plates 28 and 66 in the proper predetermined pattern, and the pillow is properly positioned therebetween, there can be no mistake or error as to the positioning of the buttons 96. For this reason, once the predetermined button pattern has been originally set up in the device, buttons 96 can be properly and securely assembled in any given number of pillows, with the proper pattern being insured for every pillow installation.

Furthermore, due to the provision of the multiplicity of gripping member mounting openings 30 on the first and second button holding plates 28 and 66, the predetermined button pattern can be quickly and easily altered and changed as desired. Also, the stop members 62 may be quickly adjusted to properly conform to a given pillow thickness. Thus, down time of the device during the changing of button patterns and the change from one pillow thickness to another are maintained at a minimum.

Additionally, during the use of the device, the actuation thereof is accomplished merely by depressing the foot pedal 94 for each button assembling operation. Between button assembling operations, the upward movement of the second button holding plate 66 relative to the first button holding plate 28 positions the second button holding plate angled, as shown in FIG. 1, due to the unique formation of the guide track members 78 so as to position the second button holding plate conveniently accessible to the operator for the installation of the upper button portions 106 in the button gripping members 32 thereof. This will clearly add to the overall etficiency of the pillow button installation operation.

I claim:

1. In a device for installing pillow buttons with first and second button portions at either side of a pillow and button connection means extending therebetween and through said pill-ow, the combination of: a frame; spaced first button holding means for releasably retaining said first button portions spaced in a predetermined pattern and positioned ready for assembly with said second button portions; spaced second button holding means for releasably retaining said second button portions spaced in said predetermined pattern and positioned ready for assembly with said first button portions; each of said first and second button holding means including a series of spaced button gripping members spaced in said predetermined pattern and releasably retaining said button portions; and actuating means operably connecting said first and second button holding means to said frame for relative movement to and from button assembly position to secure said button portions with said pillow therebetween, said first button portions at one side of said pillow, said second button portions at an opposite side of said pillow, and said button connection means secured therebetween and through said pillow.

2. A device for installing pillow buttons as defined in claim 1 in which each of said first and second button holding means includes a series of spaced button gripping members mounted on plate-like members spaced in said predetermined pattern and releasably retaining said button portions; and in which said actuating means includes track means for guiding at least of said plates rectilinearly toward and away from the other of said plates to and from said button assembling position.

3. A device for installing pillow buttons as defined in claim 1 in which each of said button gripping members has resiliently urged gripping segments releasably peripherally engageable with said button portions.

4. A device for installing pillow buttons as defined in claim 1 in which each of said first and second button holding means includes a series of spaced button gripping members mounted on a support spaced in said predetermined pattern and releasably retaining said button portions; and in which said actuating means includes means connecting said first holding means support stationary on said frame, spaced guide means on said second holding means support, track means co-operatively engaged with said guide means for guiding said second holding means support to and from said button assembling position relative to said first holding means support.

5. A device for installing pillow buttons as defined in claim 1 in which each of said first and second button holding means includes a series of spaced button gripping members mounted on a support spaced in said predetermined pattern and releasably retaining said button portions; and in which said actuating means includes means connecting said first holding means support stationary on said frame, spaced guide means at each of opposite sides of said second holding means support, slotted track members on said frame and extending adjacent said opposite sides of said second holding means support, said track members being co-operatively engaged with said guide means and guiding said second holding means support to and from said button assembling position and relative to said first holding means support.

6. A device for installing pillow buttons as defined in claim 1 in which each of said first and second button holding means includes a series of spaced button gripping members mounted on a support spaced in said predetermined pattern and releasably retaining said button portions; and in which said actuating means includes means connecting said first holding means support stationary on said frame, spaced guide means at each of opposite sides of said second holding means support, slotted track members on said frame and extending adjacent said opposite sides of said second holding means support, said track members being co-operatively engaged with said guide means and guiding said second holding means support to and from said button assembling position and relative to said first holding means support, said track members having curved end portions, said guide means moving in said track end portions during movement of said second holding means support from said first holding means support, said guide means angling said second holding means support upon movement of said guide means into said track member end portions.

7. A device for installing pillow buttons as defined in claim 1 in which each of said first and second button 8 holding means includes a series of spaced button gripping members mounted on a support spaced in said predetermined pattern and releasably retaining said button portions, each of said supports having a series of gripping member mounting holes formed thereon, means selectively removably mounting said gripping members in certain of said mounting holes for retaining said gripping members spaced in said predetermined pattern, said gripping members being selectively removable from said certain mounting holes and mountable in certain other of said holes for changing said predetermined pattern.

8. A device for installing pillow buttons as defined in claim 1 in which each of said first and second button holding means includes a series of spaced button gripping members mounted on a plate spaced in said predetermined pattern, each of said button gripping members having resiliently urged gripping segments releasably peripherally engageable with said button portions.

9. A device for installing pillow buttons as defined in claim 1 in which means selectively removably mounts said button gripping members spaced in said predetermined pattern and is selectively actionable for changing said spacing and said predetermined pattern.

10. A device for installing pillow buttons as defined in claim 1 in which each of said first and second button holding means includes a series of spaced button gripping members mounted on a support spaced in said predetermined pattern and releasably retaining said button portions; and in which said actuating means includes means connecting said first holding means support stationary on said frame, spaced guide means at each of opposite sides of said second holding means support, slotted track members on said frame and extending adjacent said opposite sides of said second holding means support, said track members being co-operatively engaged with said guide means and guiding said second holding means support to and from said button assembling position and relative to said first holding means support, actuating arm means operably connected to said second holding means support, fluid cylinder means operably connected to said actuating arm means for moving said second holding means support through said actuating arm means to and from said button assembling position.

11. A device for installing pillow buttons as defined in claim 1 in which said series of spaced button gripping members on one of said first and second button holding means has end surfaces serving with the respect1ve button portions retained thereon as pillow holding surfaces for holding said pillow during said relative movement between said first and second button holding means to said button assembling position.

12. A device for installing pillow buttons as defined in claim 1 in which each of said first and second button holding means includes supports mounting said series of spaced button gripping members spaced in said predetermined pattern and releasably retaining said button portions; and in which at least one of said supports of said first and second button holding means has adjustable spacing means formed thereon maintaining said supports and said button gripping members of said supports spaced apart in said button assembling position.

13. In a device for installing pillow buttons at the side of a pillow and assembled with said pillow, the combination of: a frame; spaced button holding means for releasably retaining said buttons spaced in a predetermined pattern and positioned ready for assembly with said pillow, said button holding means including a series of spaced button gripping members spaced in said predetermined pattern and releasably retaining said buttons and actuating means operably connecting said button holding means to said frame for relative movement to and from button assembly position with said buttons against said pillow side to assemble said buttons with said pillow.

9 14. A device for installing pillow buttons as defined in claim 13 in which each of said button gripping members has resiliently urged gripping segments releasably peripherally engageable with said buttons.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 536,427 3/1895 Hayes 227149 10 691,937 1/1902 Freschl 227 15 XR 1,646,072 10/1927 Stimpson 227-15 WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner.

R. L. FARRIS, Assistant Examiner. 

